Week 1 - Exploring Instructional Models and Teaching Approaches

Instructional models and or teaching approaches come in a vast variety. Whilst teacher centred approaches are still the most eminent (Byra, 2006), new evidence highlights the importance of students inquiry skills, and educators becoming aware of alternate teaching styles that can be adopted in a physical education setting (Byra, 2006) increasing the new age of student centred teaching and learning. Nonetheless there is an importance on not losing our direct teaching approaches in amongst the era of the student as educators, as this may cause privilege to students still adapting to this new approach.

It has come to my attention that there is a wide spectrum of choices when it comes to instructional models or teaching approaches. Casey & MacPhail (2018) discuss the concept of models-based practice or MBP, which is the basis of conveyance of a model such as Inquiry learning, Sports Education, Direct Instruction, or Cooperative Learning. Each model or approach has a set goal they orientate toward to create meaningful experiences that instil learning. But, whilst some of these models may overlap, others have very distinct differences in the way they approach students learning capabilities providing us with our spectrum.

Our choice as educators on which model or approach we should acquire shouldn't be taken lightly as each model or approach can provide larger benefits to some students and not others. Gurvitch, Lund & Metzler (2008; as cited in Casey & MacPhail 2018) contends that MBP motivates educators to utilise a variety of instructional models and or approaches throughout the physical education curriculum.

Ash Casey discusses his 2014 article via a podcast and identifies educators are learning to communicate better through the use of MBP. He pinpoints that a MBP is worth the ongoing development that takes to implement it but, it's an investment and the the life experiences of the utilisation of the models shows outstanding results.

References

Ash Casey - See Episode 2: Ash Casey discussing models based practice: Playing with Research in Health and Physical Education

Byra, M.A.R.K., 2006. Teaching styles and inclusive pedagogies. The handbook of physical education, pp.449-466.

Casey, A. and MacPhail, A., 2018. Adopting a models-based approach to teaching physical education. Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy, 23(3), pp.294-310.

Episode 2: Ash Casey discussing models based practice: Playing with Research in Health and Physical Education (2020) podcast, Anchor FM, retrieved 3 April 2020 <https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/episode-2-ash-casey-discussing-models-based-practice/id1434195823?i=1000419524802>